Study: 16M Americans Underinsured in 2003

A Commonwealth Fund news release said that the estimated
61 million with no insurance, sporadic insurance, or
insurance that exposed them to catastrophic medical costs
were at increased risk for not being able to obtain the
quality care they needed.

According to the study:

Half of the underinsured and uninsured went
without at least one of four needed medical services,
double the rate of those with adequate insurance.
Two-thirds of the sicker adults who were underinsured
and three-fourths of sicker adults who were uninsured
went without needed care.

levels of financial stress for the underinsured
were almost equal to levels reported by the
uninsured.

The study, “Insured But Not Protected: How Many Adults
Are Underinsured?” was designed to assess the growing
numbers of underinsured adults and how their lack of
adequate coverage affects their health and finances,
according to The Commonwealth Fund. The study is
here
.